Wis. school board denies amputated finger claim

Posted:
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 9:45 PM EST

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- The Appleton Board of Education has denied a liability claim for a student who lost part of a finger last spring.

Mariah Yang was injured trying to retrieve a volleyball from Madison Middle School's bleachers. Her family sought $100,000 from the district to cover the girl's medical bills and "past and future pain and suffering."

Community Insurance Corp. said it was unable to find "clear negligence on the part of the district."

Attorney Jeffrey Berzowski, who is representing the Yang family, tells The Post-Crescent (http://post.cr/sqaN7V) his next step would be to file a lawsuit against the district.

The claim says the girl climbed on closed bleachers to retrieve a volleyball when her hand got stuck and she fell to the floor. Her right pinky finger was amputated near the knuckle.